Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Our First Time


Prayer has been on my mind lately...alot.

Maybe because my husband and I have been praying together more than we ever have before. The hardships of life have brought us to our knees. Financial difficulties, working in the world and raising children, have a way of bringing that posture upon Christians. Prayer has been what we have slowly begun to work at together. Paul and I didn't pray together for years. As a matter of fact, when Paul and I started going to church my darling husband wouldn't even sing the worship songs. He would just stand and sit at all the right times, but to me he looked like a statue. I thought I was bringing a real big dud to church with me.

But God leaves no life unchanged. Ten years later, my beloved statue is now a godly husband and father...who enjoys singing all of the worship songs at church. God gave us new beginnings and lots of new firsts.

You never forget your "first times."

The first time I remember praying with my husband was after my mother died. Moments after getting the life changing call from my sister, we were in the car driving to meet with the family, to see mom one last time before she would be taken out of her house. For the first time my mom wouldn't be alive when I drove up to my childhood home and when I walked in the front door, screen slamming behind me, for the first time she wouldn't greet me. It was on that drive to see her that Paul prayed with me, for the very first time. I will never forget that.

I didn't grow up around parents who prayed together. Although, I am sure they had their moments when they prayed separately, but I would have probably fallen off of my chair if I'd seen my mother and father, heads bowed, holding hands or even kneeling and praying together.

My children will not be able to say the same about their father and I.

We pray together as a family each morning when we have our family devotions. Our children have seen their parents pray both together and separately. Just this week, Paul and I were in his office praying before he went out for a potential job interview. Our son David happened to walk in as we were standing together, holding hands and praying before Paul left. My prayer closet has been barged into on quite a few occasions. My children find me most often at the side of my bed, facing out of our picture window. I love that spot because when I look out I can see trees and birds and the awesome majesty of the sky and mountains when I kneel in prayer.

Prayer is so very powerful. But like any part of our maturing Christian walk, it is a process. First times are often uncomfortable and don't feel quite normal. But once you repeat the process over and over and over again, the uncomfortable suddenly becomes comfortable. Those first time baby steps of prayer are the beginning of a strong and independant walk with the Lord that will take you as far as you want to go.

"When you draw near to God, He will draw near to you." James 4:8

I have lived long enough to see God's miraculous hand move after the heartfelt prayers of this mother's hurting heart. Prayer has been the salve that helped heal the burns of the fiery trials of my life. Prayer has been the peace giver that calmed my nerves after many a difficult day and prayer has been the life preserver that I have thrown in the direction of many a drowning friend who needed supernatural rescue. When I take time now to pray with my husband, it is with a hopeful expectation that God in all of His infinite wisdom and amazing glory, is setting aside time just for us. It is comfortable now when Paul and I pray together.

But I will always remember our first time.



15 comments:

Amy said...

This is just what I needed to hear this morning. Thank you!

Rebekah said...

Great post. Encouraging for me

Cheri said...

What great examples you are setting for your children. This post made me a little teary because we are getting very near the anniversary of my mom's death and I vividly remember that drive to our house after getting that call. What a blessing to have supportive husbands during times like that.

Anonymous said...

This is a beautiful story.

And it has inspired me to post about a first that happened in our family this weekend. Hopefully it will be up on my blog soon.

Beth Cotell said...

What a beautiful post!

Anonymous said...

God is doing a work and we are doing our part. Thanks for the moving post!

Mari said...

What a great post! It is such an incredible thing to pray with your husband and it often makes me cry!

Kim@Seasons of My Heart said...

Joanne~
As I read your post, I got the chills, as I read each heartfelt word.

My dh and I are going through some of the same difficulties that you are. For the past 2 years we've gone through some TOUGH financial situations and to say we've gone from the palace to the pit wouldn't be too much of a stretch.

For us, prayer has been something we've always done...(both being from christian homes..praying together just seemed natural)...but in our case, we've been struggling in HUGE ways with being faithful to God through our money.

It was easy to give/support the church during the times of plenty, but let me tell you, it's been another story..to submit, and do the same during the lean times.

Our of our disobedience...we've been having one lean season, after another....and FINALLY...through prayer...God has spoken to both of our hearts....and he's asking us if we are willing to TRUST him completely???? We said yes, and we've now set up a budget...(heaven help us) that we MUST live by...and giving God what is his...is first on the list.

I say all of this to say, when we are faithful to pray together...as husband and wife, God WILL move! When we are in unity...as husband and wife, God will speak to our hearts.

You are doing a GREAT thing...by seeing your need to pray together...that is truly a 3 cord bond...(Jesus, you and your hubby) that will NOT be easily broken.

Thank-you friend...for your openness...and honestly.

I'll be praying that God moves in POWERFUL ways...to meet you every need.

Kim~

elizabeth embracing life said...

This is an amazing reminder to keep that circle of prayer a continual thing. Not just in extreme times of need. I too remember the first time my husband took my hands, and we kneeled in prayer. He lead and I just about fell over, but you know, God kept my mouth quiet and spirit was so touched. Firsts are good to always remember. Blessings to you!

Tricia said...

What a wonderful, encouraging post! Thanks for sharing your family's journey in prayer.

My husband and I have recently started praying together every morning, after we were shocked to our core with some family stuff going on... but everyday before he goes to work he comes and finds me and we pray for our day before parting, it is so wonderful!!

Any my boys are starting to pray their own prayers from their little hearts and it is so precious! Prayer is such a precious and valuable gift from God, I am so glad my boys are learning to use it early.

My makeover is almost done, I saw a preview last night and it is absolutely wonderful. It should be up soon so check by in a few days. And thanks for hosting the contest, you have blessed me so!!

Paula V said...

What a beautiful post. There mose definitely power in praying and to pray as a couple...there's no stronger bond. I think sharing that intimacy of prayer with one's spouse is does a number of things in the relationship with each other and also the relationship with God. As they say...the family that prays together stays together....there indeed is some truth to that.
In Him,
Paula

Jess said...

What a great example you and Paul are to your children. And such an encouragement to so many of us out here in the 'blogosphere'.
Thank you for your heartfelt words.

~Jess

Aly said...

Beautifully written -- coming straight from the heart of a true woman of faith...this deeply touched my heart: "Prayer has been the salve that helped heal the burns of the fiery trials of my life." You couldn't have written any more precise than that, my friend! Agape ~ aly

Anonymous said...

Our testimony is very similar to yours. We've been married for 10 years and our first years of marriage and even our dating years were nothing like what we have now. Prayer has changed our lives. Other's have interceded on our behalf when we couldn't pray or didn't want to pray in our early years. Later, I would annoint my husband with oil...pleading with God to make him the spiritual leader in our home...God answered my cries and today my husband is an amazingly Godly man who even speaks in chapel at his school... I cry every time I hear him speak because it is a testimony of everything God has brought us to and through.

Anonymous said...

I forgot to say, thank you for sharing this!!! I'm sure it will encourage many who read it :o)

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